about capsicums

[den_the_cat]

I got a nice capsicum plant from the garden centre last weekend - but it was in a row between two lots of ornamental chilli type houseplants which were labelled poisonous. Its not labelled anything (literally just capsicum). Are there poisonous ornamental varieties or shall I just go ahead and eat them? Its quite a small plant and the fruits are ripe now (red) so its not the type you get in the veg box I suspect.

As a different question, for some reason I have in my head that capsicum seeds are poisonous? I sort of remove them when I'm chopping but am by no means religious about it and I haven't killed anyone yet, so I was wondering if thats true or an urban myth? anyone know?

[2steps]

not sure about poisonous varieties but I havr 2 plants in my kitchen that have ripe peppers on and are still flowering. not heard anything about the seeds being poisionous either

[Andy Hamilton]

I got a nice capsicum plant from the garden centre last weekend - but it was in a row between two lots of ornamental chilli type houseplants which were labelled poisonous. Its not labelled anything (literally just capsicum). Are there poisonous ornamental varieties or shall I just go ahead and eat them? Its quite a small plant and the fruits are ripe now (red) so its not the type you get in the veg box I suspect.

As a different question, for some reason I have in my head that capsicum seeds are poisonous? I sort of remove them when I'm chopping but am by no means religious about it and I haven't killed anyone yet, so I was wondering if thats true or an urban myth? anyone know?

If it is just called capsicum then you should be ok, they should tell you if it is poisonus. To be on the safe side post a picture if you like and we will try and identify it. How big are the fruits?

The seeds are not poison either, the urban myth is that the seeds make for hotter curries I have heard that it actually the white pyth inside that makes it hotter.

[caithnesscrofter]

I've seen these in shops... that say for "ornamental use, not edible". if the one you bought was next to these... well.. I do know if you grow sweet peppers next to jalapenos or other hot peppers they cross breed equally mutant peppers LOL. I've never heard of poisonous capsicum.. but, there must be a reason why they say not to eat these?!?

[The Chili Monster]

I've never heard of poisonous capsicums but I have heard of peppers grown for their ornamental value ... purple beauty, marble, bolivian rainbow, penis (peter); these are examples of such chillies, and they're not poisonous although they do tend to be quite hot! Perhaps the seller is getting confused ...

The heat from a chilli comes from the presence of a substance called capsicain, which is contained at high pressure within the skin (plasma) inside the pepper to which the seeds are attached. When the pepper is cut, the skin ruptures, spraying the capsicain over the centre of the chilli.
The seeds are not harmful and their contribution to the heat of a meal is ZILCH as Andy has correctly pointed out. If you need to take out the heat, then it's the pith you remove and not the seeds.


As for the jars of seeds you see on supermarket shelves. What a rip off.